Compelled to address an issue that is before city officials and now apparently due to a flip-flop by the judge who reviewed the suit brought forth about The Arbors. The Arbors, you see, is a multi-million dollar investment ($14 million) scheduled to be constructed for aging members of our community. You probably remember the term "flip-flop" that was used in some political circles a few years back to project extreme negativity.

This project was fully vetted by the Russellville Planning Commission and City Council. Both bodies approved it as a very positive development for Russellville and its citizens. It also has the support of State Sen. Greg Standridge and other officials.

Landers Holding, LLC, developers and operators, presented exceptional plans for review by city officials and the public. Some of the pertinent elements of this facility are: It will be gated for security, include a memory care unit, have a rustic appearance, include custom waterfalls, sidewalks, walking trails, special landscaping, high quality furnishings, and be a state of the art facility that will be just five minutes from the local hospital and medical clinics. Employing 40 to 50 people at full capacity will also be a nice thing for our area, too.

Some might ask, why is Russellville the place for this facility? Because, all the research made by the developer supports its need. Also, have you looked around lately at the growing older adult population in our area? An example of a well- blended facility in a good residential neighborhood can be seen at Brookdale, formerly Wildflower. Should anyone say that facility had a negative impact on the neighborhood? The Arbors will be a serene setting and where the developer desires to put it.

I do not believe anyone on either side of this issue would say it is not needed. However, our city is faced with similar drama as occurred with the Neighborhood Market and Casey's General Store. It comes from those who have delusions and unrealistic thoughts their life, their family, their home, or their business will remain the same always.

Have you lived in places considered either regressive or progressive? Those regressive ones were constantly plagued by factions determined to disregard the decisions of good servant leaders who worked clearly toward guarded instrumental growth. Similarly, our leaders determined decisions are being disregarded in favor of self or special interests and above all reasonableness.

Can our servant leaders be right 100 percent of the time? Certainly not, but when their decisions remain centered on the public good for the majority, and in this case they were, desirable progress will be made. Russellville is better than this, and our leaders should be supported as well as this developer.

I encourage everyone to support this desirable and valuable project and move our city progressively along. The Arbors is needed, it will be a great facility, and it is the right thing to do.

Mr. Landers only has compassion for the elderly as long as they can pay their $4,000 to $5,000 per month rent. After he has exhausted their life savings, they will be forced out to a traditional nursing home that accepts Medicare/Medicaid. Please do not confuse compassion with greed.

Landers is building this for one reason, and one reason only... Money. As soon as it is built and rented out, he will bundle it with the other facilities he still owns(that did not have to be sold on the courthouse steps) and sell it.

The Arbors is a business. Marina Way is R-1 single family residential, and should stay that way. Mr. Landers, do what you said you would at the city council meeting and build it somewhere else, somewhere appropriately zoned for your commercial enterprise.

Mr. Eaton, had the Planning Commission and the City Council actually vetted the project, there would have been no reason to ram it down the throat of the citizens by suspending the rules and reading it three times at the meeting in lieu of listening to the concerns of the residents and letting the due process of the ordinance take place. You along with most past councils don't follow proper procedures when you see a way to avoid having to create some uncomfortable situation in lieu of listening to your citizens. One reason that you were not re-elected. You might also study what a PUD was created for...redevelopment of struggling areas due to the economy and zoning regulations not spot zoning to fit a developers needs. And pay attention to the upset residents Mr. Sims.

It's not completely horrible, but a few things do come to mind. 1) Increased traffic (slow at that) including vans like Brookdale (Wildflower) has carting people all over town all the time 2) Daily ambulance sirens in what is currently a quiet neighborhood 3) A structure that sticks out among the neighboring houses. I'm sure there are other negatives as well.

Yes, jobs are a huge positive! I do not live here, but I would want it somewhere else if I did. You said "Some might ask, why is Russellville the place for this facility? Because, all the research made by the developer supports its need." Is this only accurate if located on Marina Way? Can it not thrive some place else in town? Would you enjoy all that comes with a place like this if The Arbors was erected on a vacant lot within a couple blocks of your house? You don't drive by a place like this in your neighborhood and say "Look at all those jobs" with a smile on your face. You think to yourself "What a nuisance".

So you see the elderly people who want to live on Marina Way as being "a nuisance " especially if they have to be "carted all over town" I guess ambulances never go down Marina Way now? I think you are the nuisance. The developer seems to have more compassion for the elderly than you do. If in fact you don't live here, I certainly hope you never do. Russellville has more than it's share of people with these same views.

Nah, not elderly in general. I'm not that cold blooded. I'm talking about massive amounts of people jammed into residential (this just happens to be elderly). I would say the same things about apartments being erected.

I live in Russellville, just not in this neighborhood, so my opinion matters. I would feel the same if it was my neighborhood. I have many friends in this area, and I share their sentiment.

Obviously ambulances go down this street, just with hardly the frequency that it would be if this project took place. The nuisance also comes from traffic from visitors and employees. Not just the vans "carting the elderly". Why do I feel like I'm explaining myself to a child?

The "Developer" is in the business of making money. Not having compassion for any age group in particular.